The Honourable Anna Bligh
11/12/2010
Million dollar makeover for Queensland casinos
The Bligh Government has given the green light to a $625 million investment for the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Townsville casinos, providing a shot in the arm for tourism and jobs.
Premier Anna Bligh welcomed Tabcorp's significant investment and said it was a sign of confidence in the state's tourism industry.
"This major redevelopment is a great leap forward for our tourism industry, providing yet another drawcard to our cities, while boosting jobs in the construction and gaming industries," Ms Bligh said.
"Tabcorp's proposal is timely, particularly for the Gold Coast, coinciding with the government's bid for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
"It would provide much-needed new hotel rooms for the influx of international and domestic tourists, should our bid be successful.
"With the Gold Coast construction due to start in 2011 it's also great news for local tradies and builders and suppliers who have been doing it tough - it's a reason to enter the new year with a new optimism."
Tabcorp's investment would see a new five-star hotel in Brisbane, along with an upgrade of existing gaming space and hotel rooms at the Treasury Casino.
Townsville's casino would be refurbished, and gaming and non-gaming facilities at Jupiter's Casino would be upgraded, including eight new restaurants and bars, a new private gaming room for VIPs, and an upgrade of the gaming floor.
As part of the redevelopment, 500 gaming machines have been allocated to be shared across the Gold Coast and Brisbane casinos.
Minister for gaming Peter Lawlor said the machines would be sourced from existing, unallocated machine licences.
"The machines will be reallocated from within the current cap, so there will be no increase overall in poker machines in Queensland," he said.
Mr Lawlor said Tabcorp would implement voluntary player pre-commitment in all its Queensland gaming venues, confirming Queensland as the state with the most pre-commitment machines in the country.
"Tabcorp has undertaken to install pre-commitment technology in its gaming machines, which helps to address problems associated with gambling," Mr Lawlor said.
Player pre-commitment allows patrons to set individual limits on time or money, prior to playing the machines. The Bligh Government trialled this technology in 2008 - and to date - almost 50 venues have signed up.
Treasurer Andrew Fraser said the proposal would increase investment and create more jobs in Queensland.
"About 3,000 construction jobs will be created over the life of the project, and once fully established, the project will create demand for 1,400 jobs," Mr Fraser said.
"No increase in poker machines, new attractions and accommodation for tourism, and a massive investment to stimulate employment, is a 'win-win-win' for Queensland."
Mr Fraser said the 500 machines would be drawn from the hotel's allocation and in return the government would adjust current taxation rates from 1 July 2012 to ensure the project is revenue neutral.
The arrangements include
· The base tax rate for hotels will be set at 35% (currently 35.91%)
· The top marginal rate applying to clubs will be reduced to 35% (to maintain consistency with current tax arrangements)
· The thresholds for the Health Services Levy will be adjusted upwards from $100 000 to $140 000
· The gaming machine cap for individual hotels will be increased from 40 to 45.
However, this will not result in additional machines overall as the machine authorities will need to be sourced from other hotels, for example by purchasing from within the hotel market.
Taken together the package will ensure that the overall gaming machine revenue tax take will not increase because of the new arrangements.
